Second-Hand Shopping in Germany: Where to Buy

Germans buy and sell used things constantly. A flat that comes without a kitchen, a bike that costs a third of the new price, a winter coat for a few euros: second hand is part of normal life here, not a compromise. For a newcomer it is also the fastest way to set up a home without spending a fortune.

This guide covers where to look, how to avoid scams on Kleinanzeigen, which flea markets are worth a Sunday, and how the free-stuff culture around Sperrmüll works.

Quick facts

• Biggest classifieds site: Kleinanzeigen (formerly eBay Kleinanzeigen). Local pickup is the norm.
• Clothes: Vinted is the main app for used fashion. Selling is free, and the buyer pays a protection fee at checkout.
• Berlin flea markets: Mauerpark and Boxhagener Platz both run every Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with free entry.
• Hamburg: the Flohschanze at Neuer Kamp 30 runs on Saturdays from 8:00 to 16:00.
• Munich: the large Red Cross flea market on the Theresienwiese is a spring event. Check the date each year.
• Berlin bulky waste: dropping up to 3 cubic metres at a BSR recycling yard is free for households. A home pickup is paid.
• Safest payment habit: cash on pickup for local deals, PayPal "Goods and services" for anything shipped.

Where do you start with second hand in Germany?

Most people use a mix. Kleinanzeigen is the first stop for furniture, appliances, bikes and electronics. Vinted covers clothes and children's items. Charity shops such as Humana and Oxfam are good for clothes, books and small household items. Flea markets are for browsing, bargaining and things you did not know you needed.

If you are still looking for somewhere to live, read our guide to finding an apartment in Germany first. Many rentals, especially outside the big cities, come without a kitchen, and that is where second hand saves the most money.

How does Kleinanzeigen work?

Kleinanzeigen is a classifieds platform where private sellers list everything from sofas to cars. You search by city or postcode, filter by price and distance, and message the seller through the platform. Most deals end with you collecting the item and paying in cash, often within a day or two.

A few habits help:

• Use the "Verhandlungsbasis" (VB) label as a hint. It means the price is negotiable. A polite offer of 10 to 20 percent below the asking price is usual.
• Write short, clear messages. German is best, but a simple message in English or a translated one usually gets an answer. "Ist der Artikel noch verfügbar?" means "Is the item still available?"
• Many listings say "Nur Abholung" (pickup only). Bring a car, a cargo bike, or a friend with one. For large items, sellers sometimes help you find a transport service.
• "Zu verschenken" means free. Good items go within minutes, so reply fast and give a pickup time.
• "Defekt" or "für Bastler" means broken or for tinkering. Believe it.

How do you avoid scams on Kleinanzeigen?

Most deals are fine, but scams exist and they follow patterns. Kleinanzeigen publishes its own safety advice, and the main points are consistent:

• Never pay with Western Union, Paysafe, MoneyGram or cash in an envelope. These cannot be traced or reversed.
• If you use PayPal, choose "Goods and services". The "Friends and family" option removes buyer protection, and scammers ask for it on purpose.
• Consider "Sicher bezahlen". This is the platform's own escrow-style payment service, which holds the money until the deal is done. Check the Kleinanzeigen help pages for the exact conditions.
• Meet in a busy place and bring someone for larger amounts. Be careful if a seller refuses pickup or suddenly changes the meeting point.
• Do not click links in messages that ask you to confirm a payment or enter card details. Real notifications come from the official Kleinanzeigen sender addresses, and suspicious emails can be forwarded to spoof@kleinanzeigen.de.
• Be wary of pressure. Scammers push for quick decisions, and a price far below market value is a warning sign, even on a trusted-looking account.

One more tip from experience: for phones, laptops and bikes, check the item in person, test it, and for bikes ask for a receipt or any proof of ownership. A bike offered for far less than it is worth, with no history, may be stolen.

Is Vinted worth using in Germany?

Yes, for clothes, shoes, bags and kids' items. Vinted is an app and website where you list items from your phone. According to Vinted's platform page, selling is free. Buyers pay a buyer protection fee at checkout when they use the "Kaufen" button. Vinted states that buyers can request a refund if an item does not arrive, arrives damaged or differs significantly from the description (Vinted buyer protection). The fee amount can change, so check the checkout screen.

Tips: read the shipping size before you buy, since parcel costs can outweigh a cheap item. Take photos in daylight. Keep the whole conversation inside the app, and do not agree to move to WhatsApp or pay outside the platform, because you lose protection if you do.

What is Momox and when should you use it?

Momox buys used books, and some other media, from you for a fixed price. On momox.de you scan the barcode or ISBN with the app, see an offer, and send the items in a parcel. Momox provides a free shipping label, and the minimum purchase value is 10 euros. Check the current terms on momox.de before you send a parcel. Books in other languages are accepted if they have an ISBN.

It is a convenient way to clear a shelf before you move. Prices are usually low, so for a rare or valuable book, a Kleinanzeigen listing may earn more.

Where are the best flea markets in Berlin?

Berlin has flea markets almost every weekend. Two of the best known are open every Sunday:

• Flohmarkt im Mauerpark: berlin.de lists every Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, free entry, at Bernauer Straße 63-64. Expect clothes, vinyl, design, bags, handmade items and food stalls. Most sellers are private people, students and artists. It is also the busiest, so go early if you dislike crowds.
• Flohmarkt am Boxhagener Platz: in Friedrichshain, listed by berlin.de as every Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, free entry. Private sellers and dealers offer household goods, books, art, fashion, vinyl and second-hand items, and there is a public playground on the square, which makes it easy with children.

Both are good places for crockery, lamps, books and records. Bring cash in small notes and a tote bag. Bargaining is accepted, but be friendly about it. Weather and public holidays can change opening, so look at the market's own page before you travel.

New in the city? Our guide to moving to Berlin explains the neighbourhoods around these markets, and our post on Berlin by boat has another idea for a free weekend.

What about flea markets in Hamburg and Munich?

In Hamburg, the Flohschanze takes place on Saturdays from 8:00 to 16:00 around the old Rinderschlachthalle at Neuer Kamp 30. According to the city, you find crockery, bikes, furniture, jewellery and clothing, with both dealers and private sellers.

In Munich, the big Riesenflohmarkt on the Theresienwiese is run by the Bavarian Red Cross and is tied to the spring festival season. Event listings point to Saturday 17 April 2027, at the start of the spring festival, but the city of Munich has not yet confirmed the 2027 festival dates, so treat the date as provisional and check the event listing and the Bavarian Red Cross site before you plan.

Most German cities have a weekend flea market. Local city websites list them, and the Saturday morning ones start early and end by mid-afternoon.

Are Humana and Oxfam worth a visit?

Yes. Both are charity-linked second-hand chains with a fixed address, which is handy when you want to try things on or browse without arranging a meeting.

• Humana: a second-hand fashion chain with shops in Berlin and other German cities. It also accepts clothing donations in its shops and containers. Use the shop finder on its site for current addresses and hours.
• Oxfam Shops: volunteers run second-hand shops across Germany, including book shops and mixed shops with clothes and household goods. The shops have limited storage, so bring small amounts when you donate and ask first about larger quantities.

Prices are higher than at a flea market, but quality is checked and you can return another day.

What is Sperrmüll and can you take things from the street?

Sperrmüll is bulky waste: old sofas, wardrobes, mattresses and similar items. In many German cities, people put usable furniture on the pavement with a "Zu verschenken" note, and neighbours take it. It is a widely known part of the culture, and a good source of shelves and chairs.

Whether leaving or taking items from a public street is allowed can vary by city and situation. Items that are set out for scheduled collection can fall under local rules, so if you are unsure, ask your landlord or check your city's waste service.

If you need to get rid of furniture, Berlin's BSR offers two routes on its Sperrmüll page:

• Bring up to 3 cubic metres to a recycling yard, free for private households, along with electrical devices.
• Book a pickup. The standard fee is 100 euros for up to 5 cubic metres, collected within 6 to 15 working days. A cheaper option costs 50 euros with pickup from the 16th working day, and an express option costs 96 euros for up to 2 cubic metres within 5 working days.

Other cities have their own system and prices, so look up the local waste company. A listing on Kleinanzeigen as "Zu verschenken" is often the cheapest way to get rid of usable furniture.

What is a Sozialkaufhaus?

A Sozialkaufhaus is a "social department store" run by a charity or a job-training organisation. It sells donated furniture, clothes and household goods at low prices. Access rules differ by operator. Some are open to everyone, and others ask for proof of low income, such as a benefit notice and an ID. That is a local decision, so call or check the shop's site before you go. If you are on a tight budget, it can be one of the cheapest ways to get a bed, a table or a washing machine. On a tight budget it also helps to understand health insurance, one of the biggest fixed costs of living here; our guide to what private health cover costs in Germany shows how it compares with public cover.

How do you furnish a flat cheaply?

A practical order that works for many expats:

1. Beds and mattresses first. Buy a new mattress for hygiene reasons and look for a used frame.
2. Kitchen next. If the flat has no kitchen, search Kleinanzeigen for "Küche abzugeben". Sellers who are moving out often offer a kitchen cheaply if you dismantle and collect it. Measure first, and check what the flat needs for water and gas connections.
3. Large furniture from Kleinanzeigen or a Sozialkaufhaus, small items from flea markets and charity shops.
4. Plan the transport. Many second-hand bargains fail on the last step. A hired van or a delivery service for a few hours often costs less than a bad purchase.

For a sense of what the rest of your budget looks like, see our cost of living in Germany guide.

FAQ

Is Kleinanzeigen the same as eBay Kleinanzeigen?

Yes. The platform used to be called eBay Kleinanzeigen and now operates as Kleinanzeigen. You will still hear people use the old name.

How do I pay safely on Kleinanzeigen?

For local deals, cash on pickup after you have checked the item is the simplest option. For shipped items, use PayPal with "Goods and services" or the platform's protected payment. Do not use Western Union, Paysafe, MoneyGram or cash in an envelope.

When are the Berlin flea markets open?

The Mauerpark and Boxhagener Platz markets are both listed on berlin.de as open every Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with free entry. Check the market's own page for weather or holiday changes.

Can I bring furniture to a recycling yard in Berlin for free?

Private households can bring up to 3 cubic metres of bulky waste to a BSR recycling yard without a fee, according to BSR. A home pickup is charged, starting at 50 euros for the slowest option.

Do I need to speak German to buy second hand?

Not much. A few phrases, such as "Ist das noch verfügbar?" and "Wann kann ich es abholen?", cover most Kleinanzeigen deals. For anything unclear, a translation app is fine for a short message.